Hmmm, the value difference between my fantasy premier league imaginary wildcard where I used some artistic licence for illustration purposes and the real one has made the first draft very tricky to say the least. Here’s my first go with some comments on each player
This is where my policy of not transferring in early causes problems as the value just isn’t there to buy anything like you would want to. In essence I’ve tried to get a balance between the 3 areas although looking at it I feel I may have over committed funds to defence. The problem is that when you buy cheaper players like Azpilicueta and Nastasic then you want cover which is why I have spent more than I would like on Cameron and Caulker as back up defenders. Hopefully the rotations will even themselves out and at least with defenders they are less likely to come on as subs and get those annoying 1 pointers. With the midfield I wanted Fellaini but just no way I could get any where near the funds so I’ve had to go for 2 cheap midfielders rather than just the 1. Even to get to this involved sacrifice on the part of my forwards. Benteke was probably the sacrifice of choice but I had to go even cheaper going for K Jones of Stoke. He has come in to the shooting stats for the first time but you really want Ba as your third striker not Jones. Anyway here’s the team so far
- Bunn
- £4.1
- The best cheap back up to a proper keeper until Feb when Ruddy returns
- Szczesny
- £5.3
- The cheapest exposure to the underrated Arsenal defence although you do miss out on the attacking potential of Gibbs and Sagna
- Caulker
- £4.8
- Doesn’ t play (who rotates CBs like AVB?) every week but at least he’s not an annoying 1 point sub so worth the gamble for value alone in a Spurs team showing some defensive mettle
- Demel
- £4.0
- You have to have a West Ham defender in there for GW23 and for their occasional ability to keep CS’s. Unfortunately theyre not as cheap as they once were apart from Demel
- Azpilicueta
- £5.6
- Would rather have Luiz but not possible so I’ve gone for the cheaper more game time risky option of Azpilicueta
- Nastasic
- £5.6
- How can a 19 year old be first choice in a champion team but he is although benched this week against Stoke. Its accepted that he will be rotated but so will everyone except for Kompany who’s £7.1m. Has Jan transfer window risk but worth it to have coverage of the best defence in the league
- Cameron
- £4.7
- Every fantasy premier league team should have a Stoke defender. A great defence outside of the elite teams at great value even if they were spanked by Aguero and Dzeko today. Well Cameron is the rest are overvalued in my mind
- Puncheon
- £4.8
- The best cheap midfielder although Marveaux is running him close while the rest of the Newcastle midfield are injured
- Michu
- £8.0
- Generally viewed as the transfer of the season an essential part of any team
- Walcott
- £8.9
- Playing as a striker in a top 4 team when he’s classified as a midfielder.
- Taylor
- £4.6
- 2 games in GW23 and reasonable game time security settled this for me. I like Marveaux but he has a limited game time shelf life
- Bale
- £9.8
- Out of suspension after GW21. The best all round midfielder in my view, shoots creates chances, a bonus magnet, has it all.
- Van Persie
- £13.5
- Mr Reliable. Now returned in 16/18 starts Utd have great fixtures as well
- Suarez
- £10.3
- I’m a believer in this guy. Yes he has days when you wonder if he could score if the goal was 3 times the size and goals keepers weren’t allowed to use their hands but stats are stats and this guy is miles ahead of anyone including RVP and has too much class to continually miss.
- Jones
- £5.0
- Only in the team due to budgetary constraints but has come in to the last 6 shooting stats for the first time so its a great leap of faith
- I hate to say this but expect many more twists and turns until January 12 in the journey that will be the fantasy premier league January wildcard of fantasy football geek especially as I try and squeeze Fellaini in some how. Good luck if you’re doing your fantasy premier league january wildcard. I hope you have more funds to work with than me
- Here’s the link (cut and paste job) to the imaginary wildcard article where I imagined myself more cash!
- http://www.fantasyfootballgeek.co.uk/my-barclays-fantasy-premier-league-imaginary-wildcard-for-gw21/
